Match ends, Reading 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
ReadingReading2BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1
Jamie Mackie scored twice as Reading ended a run of three successive home defeats with victory over Brighton at the Madejski Stadium.
The Royals were asked by boss Steve Clarke to show the same form as they had in reaching the FA Cup last eight.
And they responded as Mackie smashed in from 18 yards after 24 minutes.
Chris O'Grady equalised in the 53rd minute with a penalty after Jake Cooper fouled Emmanuel Ledesma but Mackie then struck from 25 yards.
The win means Reading move four points above Brighton and 13 points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Clarke's side will hope that a home win will give them added confidence ahead of their FA Cup replay against League One side Bradford at the Madejski next Monday, which will be shown live on BBC One.
The winners will take on Arsenal in the semi-finals at Wembley.
The hosts began strongly with decent chances falling to Cooper and Hal Robson-Kanu.
But Brighton - with only three away league wins all season - should have taken the lead when former Reading defender Greg Halford headed tamely towards goal from Ledesma's free-kick.
It proved a costly miss, as Reading went ahead after a weak clearance from Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale.
Hope Akpan latched on to it and released Mackie, who strode forward and fired a fierce drive past the keeper.
Reading could have gone further ahead but after a relatively tame first half, Brighton equalised from the spot.
Cooper clumsily pushed Ledesma over in the area and O'Grady easily despatched the kick.
Three minutes later, Reading regained their lead. Mackie cut in from the right flank and sent a powerful low shot skidding past Stockdale.
Nick Blackman twice had chances as Reading continued to dominate and they held on comfortably for a much-needed win.
Reading boss Steve Clarke: "It gives us a lift in the league and that's what we needed. We knew the game was crucial because Brighton were just below us in the league, so it was a big win for us.
"A home performance was important because we had lost the last three and not scored any goals. But I thought Jamie deservedly put us in front.
"We showed what we showed in recent weeks - grit, character and determination - got ourselves in front again and never looked like losing after that."
Brighton boss Chris Hughton: "We were better in the second half, it's a difficult pitch to play on and they played to their strengths.
"The most disappointing thing was having fought to get back into the game in the second half, we needed to keep the score at 1-1 for a longer a period of time. We conceded again, albeit to a fabulous strike, but we have to defend better for both goals."
Line-ups
Reading
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Federici
- 2Gunter
- 15Hector
- 35Cooper
- 12McClearyBooked at 88mins
- 23WilliamsSubstituted forKeownat 90+2'minutes
- 16Akpan
- 14Chalobah
- 22Blackman
- 19MackieSubstituted forNorwoodat 79'minutes
- 9Robson-KanuSubstituted forPogrebnyakat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 6Norwood
- 7Pogrebnyak
- 10Cox
- 20Aiyegbeni
- 25Taylor
- 31Andersen
- 34Keown
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Stockdale
- 33Halford
- 3GreerBooked at 90mins
- 5DunkBooked at 87mins
- 30BennettBooked at 88mins
- 24InceBooked at 61minsSubstituted forBestat 75'minutes
- 28Kayal
- 32LedesmaSubstituted forBrunoat 86'minutes
- 18Forster-Caskey
- 25Lua Lua
- 11O'Grady
Substitutes
- 2Bruno
- 4Hughes
- 14Calderon
- 16Ankergren
- 17Vilaca Teixeira
- 19Best
- 22Holla
- Referee:
- Andy Haines
- Attendance:
- 14,748
Match Stats
Home TeamReadingAway TeamBrighton
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading 2, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.
Post update
Corner, Reading. Conceded by Joe Bennett.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris O'Grady (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lewis Dunk with a headed pass.
Booking
Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Leon Best (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Niall Keown (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Niall Keown replaces Daniel Williams.
Post update
Foul by Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Bruno (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading).
Post update
Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Reading).
Post update
Foul by Chris O'Grady (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Chris Gunter (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Joe Bennett (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
